Apple Cracks Down on Cal AI Over Payment Rule Violations

Apple briefly removed the MyFitnessPal-owned food-logging app Cal AI from the US App Store last week after the developer bypassed in-app purchase guidelines and used deceptive billing tactics.

The developer has since resolved the compliance issues, allowing the calorie-tracking platform to return to the digital marketplace.

Why Apple Temporarily Banned Cal AI

The sudden disappearance of Cal AI made the rounds across social media last week. Industry observers noted that Apple appeared to be making an example of the viral startup. Originally launched by two high school students, the business rapidly scaled to $50 million in ARR before its acquisition by MyFitnessPal in March.

Initial speculation suggested that Apple banned the app simply for utilizing web-based transactions instead of Apple’s proprietary in-app purchase (IAP) system—a practice that is now legally permitted under specific conditions.

Navigating the Post-Epic Games App Store Rules

Under current App Store policies, developers in the United States can direct users to external payment systems. This policy shift resulted from the federal court ruling in the Epic Games v. Apple antitrust lawsuit. However, this freedom comes with strict caveats: most applications must still present Apple’s native IAP system as an option alongside any external payment links. The only major exceptions are designated “reader” apps—such as those delivering digital books, music, or video streaming subscriptions—a category that does not apply to Cal AI.

Apple confirmed that Cal AI’s temporary suspension stemmed from multiple direct violations of its developer guidelines. These infractions included circumventing the standard checkout flow, implementing deceptive billing designs, and employing other manipulative user-interface tactics. The enforcement action signals that Apple continues to strictly police how developers integrate web-based payment systems, even in a post-Epic Games regulatory landscape.

Inside Cal AI’s Payment and Billing Violations

Bypassing In-App Purchases (Guideline 3.1.1)

Apple’s primary grievance involved Cal AI bypassing the App Store’s native payment system entirely. The developer integrated an embedded checkout system powered by Stripe to sell digital goods. By doing so, they completely removed Apple’s IAP option for users during checkout, directly violating Apple’s App Review Guideline 3.1.1, which mandates that native IAP must always be offered alongside external payment links.

Deceptive Billing and Paywall Design (Guideline 3.1.2c)

The tech giant also cited Cal AI for deceptive billing practices under Guideline 3.1.2c. The app’s paywall was structured to mislead users by highlighting a weekly calculated price far more prominently than the actual, larger amount the user would be billed. Additionally, the interface featured a free-trial toggle that obscured crucial details regarding automatic subscription renewals.

Manipulative Tactics (Guideline 5.6)

Furthermore, Apple accused the app of violating the Developer Code of Conduct under the Developer Code of Conduct’s guideline 5.6 due to manipulative user flows. Users who declined an initial subscription offer were immediately prompted with an alternative, aggressive subscription prompt. This design choice resulted in a wave of negative user reviews accusing the platform of being a scam because of how it presented its third-party payment options.

Cal AI’s Return and Apple’s Clear Warning

Following the rejection, Cal AI updated its interface to comply with App Store rules, allowing the app to return to the platform. Representatives from MyFitnessPal and Cal AI did not respond to requests for comment regarding the suspension.

The incident suggests Cal AI may have been testing the boundaries of Apple’s post-lawsuit oversight. Apple’s swift intervention serves as a clear warning to the developer community: the company will aggressively enforce its guidelines, even if it means temporarily pulling a viral application that currently ranks fourth on the App Store’s Health & Fitness charts.